With sneakers as clue, San Rafael police arrest suspect in photographed bike theft

A case of bicycle theft and cellphone vigilantism in San Rafael took another twist Thursday because of a distinctive pair of sneakers.

Police identified Gregory James Ross, 29, as the man suspected of using a pair of bolt cutters to steal a locked bicycle Tuesday morning off B Street. The bike's owner, retired schoolteacher Angelo Douvos, 79, was eating in a nearby restaurant at the time.

The theft was captured in a cellphone photo taken by a passer-by, Hugo Landecker, a neighborhood watchdog who was recently named Citizen of the Year by the San Rafael City Council. Landecker gave police the photo.

On Wednesday morning, San Rafael police Officer Tom Sabido found the missing bike on B Street and returned it to Douvos.

On Thursday morning, Sabido was on routine patrol in Albert Park when he spotted Ross. Based on the cellphone photo provided by Landecker, police already suspected that Ross might have been the thief, said San Rafael police Sgt. Roy Leon. But the clincher was that Ross was wearing a pair of dark topped, white-soled sneakers like the ones visible in Landecker's photo, Leon said.

"The distinctive shoes gave it away," he said. Ross was also wearing clothes similar to the suspect in the photo.

Police brought Landecker out and asked him whether Ross was the man he saw taking the bike. Landecker identified Ross as the suspect.

Ross was booked into Marin County Jail on suspicion of possession of stolen property, possession of burglary tools and stealing a vehicle for temporary use. His bail was set at $10,000.

Ross denied stealing the bike, Leon said.

The incident was Ross' second run-in with San Rafael police in recent weeks. Late last month, police contacted a man who appeared to be intoxicated near a bus stop on Lincoln Avenue. Police identified the man as Ross and determined he had a suspected drug pipe rolled up in a napkin inside his pocket, said police spokeswoman Margo Rohrbacher said.

Ross initially denied it was his pipe, but then conceded ownership, Rohrbacher said. Ross was cited and released, while a woman with him was arrested on suspicion of methamphetamine possession.

Both he and the woman, Rachel Marie Holloway, were charged with misdemeanor drug crimes. They are scheduled to appear in court on March 18.